History Main / StickEmUp

* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'', Little John saves Robin from being executed by pointing a dagger at Prince John's back and making him to let Robin go.

* In ''Film/TheChase'', Charlie Sheen kidnaps Kristy Swanson with a Butterfinger bar.

* [[FairCop Kirihara]] in ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', while shopping, stuck her battle lipstick into the back of someone resembling [[MalevolentMaskedMan BK-201]]. Who ''was'' BK-201 in civil identity... that is an [[{{Adorkable}} awkward lad]] she already knew, so he only had [[NotWhatItLooksLike to explain buying a bra and a wig]] without mentioning he hides someone from {{Yakuza}}.

* In Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood'', Little John saves Robin from being executed by pointing a dagger at Prince John's back and making him to let Robin go.

* ''Series/MacGyver'''s done this with a broomstick at least once.

* In Canada, any hint of a weapon in commission of a robbery makes it considered armed, even if it is just a finger in a pocket.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

-->'''Alan''': "Freeze! You've got a caliber 74 aimed at your back!"
-->'''Bad Guy''': "74 you said? Wait a minute, (turns around) there's no such gun!"
-->'''Alan''': "[[OhCrap Oh really?]]"

[[folder: Fan Fiction ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* ''Film/{{Bandits}}'' did this with a permanent marker, a bank security guard and Bruce Willis.

* Referenced in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'': [[MultipleChoicePast one version]] of what sous chef Horst did to end up in jail is that he "once robbed the second biggest bank in France using only a ball-point pen."

* In Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood'', Little John saves Robin from being executed by pointing a dagger at Prince John's back and making him to let Robin go.
-->'''Little John:''' Now, P.J., tell my pal to kiss Maid Marian, or I've just found a new pincushion.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In one episode of ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'', Clark Kent did this with his finger.
-->'''Clark''' It's just a finger.
-->'''Baddie''' You got a finger made of steel, buddy.
* The First Doctor does this in ''Series/DoctorWho'' with a branch. "The Time Meddler", aka the Meddling Monk, finds out... and the Doctor threatens to smack him upside the head if he doesn't behave.
* In an episode of the Scottish murder mystery series ''{{Series/Taggart}}'', a police detective used a piece of pipe to get an IRA killer to lower his gun. When he realised he's been fooled the IRA man couldn't help laughing.

[[folder: Radio ]]

* A French radio show had a baddie holding up twins using a real gun and a pipe, after pointing out he was ambidextrous.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker there are whole missions where you must hold up all the guards in the level. Getting seen is an instant mission failure however, because you are armed with nothing but a banana.

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* ''Webcomic/AntiheroForHire'': Dechs uses his finger at one point; this is seen as a major development, since Dechs -always- uses his gun.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Parodied in "WesternAnimation/BuckarooBugs" and many other WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes cartoons.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* In Sarah's debut episode of ''WebVideo/{{lonelygirl15}}'', "Crazy Emo Chick", she introduces herself to Daniel by putting lipstick to his back, announcing that it's a gun, and demanding that he puts his hands in the air, and that Bree and Jonas turn off the camera. It turns out she's just playing a practical joke.

[[folder: Real Life ]]

It can work with knives too, but guns seem to be the preferred choice when an option. SubTrope of BrandishmentBluff. [[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with FingerGun.

* Parodied in "Buckaroo Bugs" and many other WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes cartoons.

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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

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[[AC:RealLife]]

* In VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker there are whole missions where you must stick up all the guards in the level. Getting seen is an instant mission failure however, because you are armed with nothing but a banana.

It can work with knives too, but guns seem to be the preferred choice when an option. SubTrope of BrandishmentBluff.

* In an episode of the Scottish murder mystery series ''{{Taggart}}'', a police detective used a piece of pipe to get an IRA killer to lower his gun. When he realised he's been fooled the IRA man couldn't help laughing.

* In Canada, any hint of a weapon in commission of a robbery makes it considered armed, even if it just a finger in a pocket.

* Used in ''VisualNovel/{{Suika}}'', aka ''Wet Summer Days''. Kamishiro Souji is attacked by some local toughs who tell him of their intention to have their way with his girlfriend, the daughter of a local artist (who is believed by some to have killed his wife). [[PapaWolf Cue the girl's father coming up from behind and pressing a bit of metal into one of their backs, telling them it's his pallet knife, and then describing how his knowledge of anatomy as an artist gives him the knowledge to be a most efficient killer.]]

[[quoteright:323:[[{{MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/banana-pw_7603.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:323:[[ThisBananaIsArmed Not actually armed.]]]]

'''Examples:'''

* An early ''{{Trigun}}'' episode plays the "finger" version straight.

* Used in VisualNovel/{{Suika}}, aka ''Wet Summer Days''. Kamishiro Souji is attacked by some local toughs who tell him of their intention to have their way with his girlfriend, the daughter of a local artist (who is believed by some to have killed his wife). [[PapaWolf Cue the girl's father coming up from behind and pressing a bit of metal into one of their backs, telling them it's his pallet knife, and then describing how his knowledge of anatomy as an artist gives him the knowledge to be a most efficient killer.]]

* This happens in ''TheAdventuresOfTintin'' at least twice.

* Done in ''OutOfSight'', also with a highlighter or something.
* TheChase from the movie of the same name starts when Charlie Sheen takes an heiress hostage with a candy bar.
* Referenced in ''{{Ratatouille}}'': [[MultipleChoicePast one version]] of what sous chef Horst did to end up in jail is that he "once robbed the second biggest bank in France using only a ball-point pen."

* John Dillinger uses an improvised wooden prop gun to escape prison in ''PublicEnemies''. TruthInTelevision too.

* In one episode of the original ''Superman'' TV series, Clark Kent did this with his finger.
-->'''Clark''' It's just a finger
-->'''Baddie''' You got a finger made of steel, buddy

* In an episode of the Scottish murder mystery series ''Taggart'', a police detective used a piece of pipe to get an IRA killer to lower his gun. When he realised he's been fooled the IRA man couldn't help laughing.
* ''TheAdventuresOfLanoAndWoodley'' used fingers in the episode ''Game Show God''.

* Omar in ''TheWire'' does this in season 5. But being Omar, you would expect him to have a real gun.

* In the original ''CastleWolfenstein'', the player can surprise guards and hold them at gunpoint, even with an empty gun.

* ''AntiheroForHire'': Dechs uses his finger at one point; this is seen as a major development, since Dechs -always- uses his gun.

* Parodied in Buckaroo Bugs and many other WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes cartoons.

* In Sarah's debut episode of ''{{lonelygirl15}}'', "Crazy Emo Chick", she introduces herself to Daniel by putting lipstick to his back, announcing that it's a gun, and demanding that he puts his hands in the air, and that Bree and Jonas turn off the camera. It turns out she's just playing a practical joke.

* Surely done on ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]''.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* TruthInTelevision. Just don't press your luck either way.
* Averted in Britain where guns are incredibly hard to get hold of; you need more permits and licenses than you do in the U.S.A. Most people who have guns in Britain have them for hunting animals or as collectables. Because of this, guncrime (and fake guncrime) is very low although knifecrime is unfortunately high.

* {{MacGyver}}'s done this with a broomstick at least once.